On the Rocks

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “I’m going to refrain from making the dirty response your comment is begging for.”

  I laughed. Macon was so good at breaking awkward tension. “And I promise to keep my clothes on this time.”

  “Who said you had to do that?” His tone was light but his eyes sent a different message.

  “All right. Let’s start this thing.”

  He opened his laptop and logged into the course.

  A simple graphic welcomed us to the program. I shifted in my stool to get comfortable.

  “So you want to bartend?” A guy with a pink polo with the collar popped stared at us from the screen.

  I nudged Macon. “Is this for real?”

  He laughed. “Just pay attention.”

  “There are lots of reasons why you might be taking this class. Maybe you want to be able to mix yourself drinks, or maybe you’re trying to impress a special someone.” The guy winked in an exaggerated way that had me nudging Macon again. “Or maybe you want to transfer to a new profession. No matter what the reason, this class will help you reach your goal.”

  He walked over to a bar and hopped up. “Are you ready to get started? What’s that? I couldn’t hear you. Are you ready?”

  “Hell yeah!” Macon smiled. “We’re so ready.”

  “All right, that’s better. Let’s get started.”

  “This is like a bad work-out video. Where’d you find this class and how much did it cost?”

  “Shh. We’re going to miss the first lesson.”

  I rolled my eyes. “The horror.”

  “Today we’re going to talk about the supplies you’ll use and the terms you need to understand before bartending. Let’s start with the different types of glasses.”

  I groaned. “Seriously, Macon? Glasses?”

  “It has to get better.”

  “Sure.” I nudged him again, and he put an arm around me. I happily rested my head against his shoulder.

  Macon was wrong. It didn’t get better. After learning about every type of glass known to man Mr. Popped Collar moved on to shakers and measuring tools. Just when I thought we might learn something interesting the lesson ended.

  “Seriously?” I looked at Macon. “When do we get to start something fun?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe class number two.”

  I laughed. For some reason the whole situation seemed incredibly funny.

  A low battery alert flashed on the screen.

  “And on that note.” Macon closed his laptop. He spun on his stool toward me. “What are you up to now?”

  “Now? You do realize it’s almost two a.m., right?”

  “Yes… I’ll ask again, what are you up to now?”

  A door squeaked and Brody walked out. “What are you up to, Macon?”

  “Did we wake you up?” I felt bad. Maybe my jeers about the class had woken him.

  “Not really… and at least you’re dressed.” He pulled a grey t-shirt on over his head.

  “Because you thought we wouldn’t be…”

  “You two have a bad track record when it comes to bartending…”

  “Unfortunately I didn’t get her liquored up tonight.” Macon winked at me.

  I groaned. “Please don’t go there.”

  Macon stretched his arms above his head. He was probably stiff from sitting so long. “Want to go for a walk?”

  “Now?” I caught Macon’s eye.

  “Yeah. Let’s grab some flashlights and head down to the beach.” Macon glanced at Brody to get his approval. Brody nodded.

  “Won’t we get arrested or something? It’s the middle of the night.”

  Macon shook his head. “You sound so much like Maddy it’s scary.”

  “What? Because I think about things like my arrest record?”

  “Wait…” Macon’s lips twisted into a smile. “Why do you I get the feeling you have a record?”

  “I don’t have anything on my record… thankfully.” I walked down the hall to my room and found my favorite black flip flops. Nervous about getting in trouble or not, I wasn’t giving up the chance for a night walk. There’s just something special about being outside at night like that, especially by the water.

  “You’re going to spill, Carly, whether you know it or not.” Macon stood by the front door, holding the door open.

  Brody placed a small flashlight into my hand.

  “That’s what you think.” I slipped out and headed down the stairs.

  The night was cool, and I immediately regretted not throwing a sweatshirt over my tank top. I wrapped my arms around myself as I gazed up at the starlit sky.

  “Cold?” Macon asked as the three of us walked along the sand.

  “Not as cold as when you threw me in the ocean.”

  “So what you’re saying is that you’re dying to take another swim?”

  “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all.” Getting in the ocean again while fully dressed was not high on my list of activities.

  “Okay. If you’re sure.” Macon got that twinkle in his eye, and I knew I was in trouble.

  “Do not throw me in, Macon.”

  “Or what?”

  “Or else.”

  Brody laughed. “That’s it? No creative threats?”

  “My threats are so creative I can’t share them with mere mortals like you.”

  Macon wrapped an arm around my waist. “Mortals?”

  “Ok, wrong word, but you get the picture.”

  “Nuh uh, you just admitted that you think you’re more than human.”

  “No I didn’t.” Had I really just said that? Maybe I was reading too many paranormal books.

  “Yes, you did.” Brody just had to join in.

  “It’s the middle of the night, and I just finished watching the world’s most boring video, cut me some slack.”

  “Sure, no problem.” Macon smiled right before he yanked the flashlight from my hand and swooped me up in his arms.

  Moments later I made contact with the dark, cool water.

  “Macon!”

  “Chill out, I’m coming,” Macon called.

  “As much as fun as a late night swim sounds, I’m heading home. Don’t get in too much trouble you two.” Brody laughed before turning back toward the condo.

  “You’re such an ass.” I splashed Macon.

  “Admit it. You’re glad I did it.”

  “Why? Why would I be glad?”

  “Because you secretly wanted to go for a night swim but were too chicken.”

  “I am not chicken to do anything.” Maybe I didn’t want to get wet, but it didn’t mean I was afraid.

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes.” I floated on my back, watching the full moon above us.

  “Kiss me while you’re sober.”

  His words had me submerging as much of myself as possible in the water. “What?”

  “You said you’re not too afraid to do anything, so kiss me. No alcohol to make excuses this time.”

  “You think I’m afraid to kiss you?” I stood up.

  “No.” He came closer. “I know you are.”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  “Then do it.” His hand circled my wrist.

  “Why? Why do you want me to?”

  “Because I need to know how you feel, Carly. I need to know what you want.”

  I shivered, half from the cold and half from his words. “I know what I want.”

  “Then show me.”

  “What if it’s not the same thing you want?”

  “Worry about that later.”

  I leaned toward him, letting my lips brush against his.

  “Really kiss me, Carly.”

  I pressed my lips against his, still not sure which way was up. Why was he pushing me? Why couldn’t he make the move? His lips started moving against mine, and I stopped hesitating. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let my lips do the talking.

  He deepened the kiss, and I pressed my body against his. I wasn’t wearing a bra under my w
hite t-shirt, and my nipples rubbed against his bare chest.

  He broke the kiss momentarily. “I feel exactly the same way, babe.” His lips returned to mine, and I pressed against him again.

  He groaned, cupping a breast through my t-shirt. The sensation of his hand through the wet fabric had me about ready to lose control. His other hand started to tug down on my pajama bottoms. I stilled him. “Not out here.”

  “If I take you to my bed again, it’s not going to be to cuddle.” His expression left nothing to the imagination.

  “Take me to your bed then.”

  “There’s no turning back this time. You need to know that.”

  “There’s been no turning back since the last time you threw me in the ocean.”

  “You’re right about that.” His lips attacked my neck as his hand found its way underneath my wet top.

  I moaned as he squeezed my breast, and I didn’t resist when he pushed my shirt up so his lips could settle on my other breast. I braced my hand on his chest, letting my fingertips explore his muscular planes.

  His lips left my breast. “I want you so bad. I don’t know how much longer I can wait.” He breathed the words in barely a whisper.

  “That’s why you’re supposed to be taking me home.”

  “Let’s go.” He tugged on my hand and pulled me out of the water.

  The cold wind stung, but I was so numb from excitement that I barely felt it as we made our way back to the condo.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Macon

  I wanted her. No, I needed her. The weeks of resisting her had broken down my restraint. As easy as it would have been to take her right there on the beach, I knew I couldn’t. I practically towed her back toward the condo, and up the stairs. Once inside, I kicked the door closed, only pausing to lock the door before picking her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist. Her lips found mine, but I had to break the kiss to keep myself moving forward.

  Thankfully the walk to my room wasn’t long. I set her down right in front of my bed and wasted no time pulling off the wet top that had been in my way. Several trails of water streamed down her chest. I licked them away, using the excuse to give my mouth the opportunity to explore her breasts more. Her nipples were so hard and responsive, I needed more. She moaned for me, and I could tell she was struggling to stay standing. I was about to make it even harder on her. Without moving my mouth, I untied her pants and let them fall to the floor. I pushed away the satin fabric of her panties and slipped one finger inside her. Her moan became more of a groan. As I expected she stumbled back, and I caught her, easing her down on my bed. I pulled her panties down and tossed them in the pile with the rest of her wet clothes. A moment later my boxers joined them.

  I looked at her. I looked at every naked part of her body, determined to memorize every inch of her.

  She looked up at me with the sexiest damn expression ever. “Are you going to join me?”

  “Hell yes.” I ran my eyes over her again. She was so damn beautiful I couldn’t really believe she was giving herself to me. I’d been with plenty of girls, but Carly was different inside and out.

  I lay down next to her, letting my hands trail down her body. Her eyes were locked on my obvious arousal.

  Things were hot and heavy—they were perfect really, but something was missing. I wasn’t making her laugh. “Aren’t you going to thank me for taking my pants off?”

  She pushed my chest. “No, I think you’re supposed to thank me first.”

  “But I took your pants off for you.”

  “Macon?”

  “Yes, babe?” I trailed tiny kissed from her neck down.

  “I already told you that I want you.”

  “Yeah?” I let my fingers move between her legs again, watching as her eyes widened. “What was that you were saying?”

  She moaned before closing her eyes and letting her hands settle at her sides. “Macon.” My name came out of her as half a moan, and I could barely hold myself together.

  “I want you, Macon.”

  “You’re going to get me.” I kissed her, loving that I was able to surprise her because her eyes were still clenched closed.

  She reached out for me, gently stroking me. I groaned. Her touch was so careful. I’d have never imagined that was the touch that would set me completely on fire, but I could barely hold it together.

  I reluctantly got up to grab a condom from the night stand. When I returned she was looking at me with those big sexy eyes again. “I’ve never wanted someone this bad before.”

  “That makes two of us.” I moved above her, locking my eyes on her as I positioned myself between her legs. I hesitated for a moment, wanting to watch the excitement on her face before entering her for the first time. Damn, she felt incredible. Wet, hot, and ready for me. I moved in further, as her breathing sped up. I tried to go slow, wanting to make sure I didn’t rush things, didn’t hurt her, but when her nails dug into my back I realized that’s not what she wanted. I sped things up, driving into her harder and faster. She opened up to me more and wrapped her legs around me. I moved my lips to her breast, as I continued to move inside her.

  “Macon.” She said my name again, and I lost myself in her.

  ***

  Light flooding in through the window woke me up. Carly stirred beside me. I had her very naked body cocooned in my arms and legs, and I couldn’t think of a better way to sleep.

  “Morning, babe.” I let my lips brush against her ear.

  “Morning.” Her voice was still heavy with sleep. With sleep she’d been having while naked in my arms—in my bed. I was already hard, but now it was worse.

  I shifted so I could look at her. “Exciting night, huh?”

  “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “I’m taking you down to the beach in the middle of the night more often.”

  “Are you sure it wasn’t the exhilarating bartending lesson that got me in the mood?”

  I laughed. “Well if that’s the case, we’ll have to do the next one tonight.”

  She touched my shoulder and gave me one of her signature sexy looks again. “The problem is I want you again right now.”

  Did she know what she was asking for?

  Her hand wrapped around me. Yeah she knew.

  “As much as I want you too, we should probably talk first.”

  Her hand dropped. “What do we need to talk about?”

  “What happened. Us.”

  Her smile faded, and she turned away.

  “Hey.” I rolled her back to look at me. “You don’t regret it, do you?” Wanting me again or not, she could have regrets.

  “No. not at all.” Then a look of panic crossed her face. “Do you?”

  “No of course not… but I’m not exactly sure what happens now.”

  “Yeah… I was just thinking about that.” She played with a corner of the sheet.

  “And what was your final conclusion?”

  “That this wasn’t a normal hook-up.”

  “Have you had a lot of experience with normal hook-ups, then?” I shifted, accidently pulling the sheet off her. I remedied the situation, letting my hands brush against her in the process.

  “No, actually I don’t.” Her expression was open and honest.

  “I have some experience, for better or worse. And you’re right, this isn’t. But we both knew that going in.”

  The look of panic was still there. I needed to do something about it.

  “Can I be completely honest and open with you, Carly?”

  She nodded slightly.

  “I want this to—”

  “I understand.” Her words tumbled out.

  “You understand? What was I going to say?”

  She looked toward the wall. “That this can’t happen again.”

  For a second I thought she wanted that until I realized she thought that’s what I wanted. I laughed, and she turned back toward me with a look that said she was ready to kill me.

  “Whoa. Ca
lm down there. That wasn’t what I was going to say. Think you’d let me finish?”

  “Yes. Say whatever you have to.”

  “Look at me.” I put a gentle hand under her chin. “What I was starting to say before I was rudely interrupted,” I paused to smile, “Was that I don’t want this to be a one-time thing. I don’t think it can be.”

  “What?”

  “Ok, this is coming out all jumbled. Give me a sec.” I’d never been so tongue tied in my life. Nothing was coming out right. “All right. Here’s the thing. I really like you. I already did before last night, but well, I did tell you there was no turning back.”

  “I like you too. You obviously know that.”

  “I’m not going to pretend that I’m offering you forever or anything weird like that, because honestly we don’t know each other that well yet, but I respect you way too much to just hook up with you randomly, and we both know this is going to happen again.” I touched the bed.

  “It is?”

  “Seriously? I pour my feelings out and you’re pretending you don’t want to have sex with me again?” I was only half serious. It wasn’t the sex I was worried about.

  “Oh. I do. But it’s not like it has to. We’re adults with the ability to make our own decisions.”

  I leaned over her. “Ok, I need an answer this second. Are you trying to get out of having an actual relationship with me, or are you just being your awkward self?”

  “The second one.”

  “Ok, good.” I lowered my lips to hers. “Then, we’re going to try this.”

  “And what’s this?”

  “Dating… although, do you think maybe we should hold off on telling Colin and Maddy until we fix things for them first?”

  “I was thinking about that too.”

  “But that doesn’t mean we’re holding off on anything else.”

  “Do we tell Brody?”

  “Yeah. Let’s be honest, I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off you.” I slipped my hands underneath the sheet, completely ready to show her just what I meant.

  “Ok, so what now?” Her eyes widened in that sexy way again.